Written Answers Monday 31 August 2009

Scottish Executive

Cancer

Angela Constance (Livingston) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has implemented to ensure better provision and continuity of care for prostate cancer patients across Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: Better Cancer Care, An Action Plan was published in October 2008 and outlined the Scottish Government’s commitment to implementing an ambitious set of actions to help improve services for all cancer patients, this will include those with prostate cancer. The Scottish Cancer Taskforce (SCT) has been established to oversee the commitments within the plan.

  The plan focuses on measures to take around cancer prevention, screening, early detection, referral and diagnosis, treatment, living with cancer, improving the quality of cancer care and delivery of cancer services.

Ferry Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NorthLink Ferries was given an additional grant in 2008-09 due to rising fuel costs and, if so, what additional amount was given.

Stewart Stevenson: Under the terms of the agreement between Scottish ministers and NorthLink Ferries Ltd, the Scottish Government is required to give the ferry company additional grant if the price of fuel increases above the amount budgeted for in the operational year. During the 2008-09 financial year, additional grant payments totalling £1.3 million were paid to NorthLink Ferries to cover the increases in the cost of fuel.

Football

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the funding it has provided to the Scottish Football Association in each of the last three years.

Shona Robison: The information requested can be found in the following table:

  

2008-09
£2.226 million1


2007-08
£1.272 million


2006-07
£1.310 million



  Note:

  1. In 2008-09 this includes £880,925 which was provided to the Scottish Football Association through the Cashback for Communities (proceeds of crime) programme to provide footballing opportunities for young people.

Football

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the funding it has provided for youth football in each of the last three years.

Shona Robison: The information requested can be found in the following table:

  

2008-09
£3.744 million1


2007-08
£1.451 million


2006-07
£2.137 million



  Note:

  1. In 2008-09 this includes £880,925 which was provided to the Scottish Football Association through the Cashback for Communities (proceeds of crime) programme to provide footballing opportunities for young people.

Forth Crossing

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest cost estimate is for the Forth Replacement Crossing.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the difference is between the latest cost estimate for the Forth Replacement Crossing and the cost estimate for the previous design of the crossing.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what factors have resulted in the difference between the latest cost estimate for the Forth Replacement Crossing and the cost estimate for the previous design of the crossing.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what cost difference resulted from the change of design of the Forth Replacement Crossing.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what cost difference resulted from the changed roads layout on the design of the Forth Replacement Crossing, broken down by road, junction or other item of road infrastructure.

Stewart Stevenson: As announced to Parliament in December 2008, the Forth Replacement Crossing project is now estimated to cost between £1.7 billion and £2.3 billion in outturn costs. This includes VAT, optimism bias and the cost of capital to the government.

  The original outturn cost, announced in 2007, was £3.2 billion to £4.2 billion. In January 2008, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth undertook to consider what use might be made of the existing bridge, given its improving prognosis. During 2008, Transport Scotland investigated how much of the functionality of the new crossing could be handled by the existing bridge and, as a result, they have been able to cut down on the size of the bridge. The amount of road works has been reduced by addressing traffic flows through the use of better traffic management. The additional design work undertaken has also created greater certainties allowing an additional reduction in its allowance for optimism bias.

  This value engineering has led to a cost saving of around £1.7 billion.

  The following table provides a breakdown of the capital cost estimates of the managed crossing scheme compared to the full corridor scheme at 2006 prices. Outturn prices allowing for the cost of capital and an estimated inflation range are also given.

  

Element
Full Corridor Scheme
(Costs £million)
Managed Crossing Scheme
(Costs £million)
Cost Difference
(Costs £million)


Network Connections
441
214
227


ITS and Supervision
41
26
15


Main Crossing
613
455
157


Approach Viaducts
108
82
26


Sub Total exc. risk, optimism bias and VAT 
1,204
777
427


Risk Allowance
160
95
65


Optimism Bias 
499
178
321


Sub-total exc. VAT
1,863
1,050
813


Non-recoverable VAT
223
145
78


Total inc. risk, optimism bias and VAT
2,086
1,195
891



  Uplift to Outturn Costs

  

Addition for Cost of Capital (Annual Managed Expenditure) and Inflation to 2016
1,114 to 2,114
525 to 1,145
589 to 969


Total Outturn Cost Range
3,200 to 4,200
1,720 to 2,340
1,480 to 1,860

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dosage errors for children occurred in each NHS board area in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.

Shona Robison: This information is not collected centrally.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost to NHS boards was in providing primary care out-of-hours services in (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05, (d) 2005-06, (e) 2006-07, (f) 2007-08 and (g) 2008-09, broken down by board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not collect this information from NHS boards.

Justice

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) crimes and (b) offences were recorded in each year since 1979.

Kenny MacAskill: The following tables give information on the number of crimes and offences recorded by the eight Scottish police forces for (i) calendar year 1979 to 1995 and (ii) financial year 1995-06 to 2007-08. Reporting by financial year was introduced in 1995.

  (i) Crimes and Offences Recorded by the Police in Scotland, Calendar Year 1979-95

  

Calendar Year
Crimes
Offences
Total


1979
346,680
327,275
673,955


1980
364,587
360,084
724,671


1981
408,204
336,521
744,725


1982
435,081
327,402
762,483


1983
445,495
351,308
796,803


1984
471,643
334,537
806,180


1985
457,899
338,410
796,309


1986
458,605
358,533
817,138


1987
472,947
376,998
849,945


1988
457,921
385,615
843,536


1989
478,208
408,646
886,854


1990
518,522
423,199
941,721


1991
572,921
427,883
1,000,804


1992
564,890
433,896
998,786


1993
517,247
441,712
958,959


1994
500,110
463,917
964,027


1995
475,697
451,869
927,566



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  (ii) Crimes and Offences Recorded by the Police in Scotland, Financial Year 1995-96 to 2007-08

  

Financial Year
Crimes
Offences
Total


1995-96
478,139
449,105
927,244


1996-97
440,687
460,416
901,103


1997-98
421,002
496,168
917,170


1998-99
434,096
520,465
954,561


1999-00
435,481
499,405
934,886


2000-01
418,494
496,068
914,562


2001-02
426,188
531,956
958,144


2002-03
418,281
524,122
942,403


2003-04
414,214
615,876
1,030,090


2004-051
438,121
638,564
1,076,685


2005-06
417,785
599,888
1,017,673


2006-07
419,257
607,406
1,026,663


2007-08
385,509
571,881
957,390



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Note:

  1. Data from 2004-05 shows the impact of the implementation of the Scottish Crime Recording Standard which, as anticipated, increased the number of minor crimes recorded by the police.

  The statistical bulletin Recorded Crime in Scotland 2008-09 is due to be published in September 2009 and will present statistics on crimes and offences recorded and cleared up by the eight Scottish police forces in 2008-09.

Justice

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were (a) on remand and (b) sentenced for handling offensive weapons in each year since 1997.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following tables. The information on remand prison receptions is based on information extracted from the Scottish Prison Service database, while the information relating to those sentenced is based on those persons with a charge proved in the Scottish Government court proceedings database (which is based on criminal history system information provided by the Scottish Police Services Authority).

  These results are not directly comparable. One remand prison reception is counted where a person is given remand for one or more offence by a court on the same day. However, in the court statistics, if a person is sentenced for more than one separate set of charges from the same court on the same day, this person will be counted more than once (in the table below), as multiple charges are proven. The following table showing charges proven counts instances of charges proven, which may include multiple charges against the same individual.

  Remand Prison Receptions1, 2 for Handling Offensive Weapons, 1997-98 to 2007-08

  

Financial Year
Receptions


1997-98
724


1998-99
832


1999-2000
837


2000-01
895


2001-02
1,092


2002-03
1,361


2003-04
1,388


2004-05
1,536


2005-06
1,627


2006-07
2,322


2007-08
2,147



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services (prison statistics), based on data extracted from the Scottish Prison Service PR2 information management system.

  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes offences of having in a public place an article with a blade or point, possession of an offensive weapon, restriction of offensive weapons.

  Persons in Scottish Courts with a Charge Proven for Handling an Offensive Weapon1, 2, 1997-98 to 2007-08

  

Financial Year
Charge Proven


1997-98
2,173


1998-99
2,033


1999-2000
2,118


2000-01
2,340


2001-02
2,633


2002-03
2,771


2003-04
2,875


2004-05
3,447


2005-06
3,500


2006-07
3,550


2007-08
3,418



  Source: Scottish Government court proceedings database.

  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes offences of having in a public place an article with a blade or point, possession of an offensive weapon, restriction of offensive weapons.

Justice

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) arrests and (b) convictions for trafficking for sexual exploitation under section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 there have been since 2003, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The number of arrests made by the police are generally not collected centrally. Data on arrests made during the specific police-led operations aimed at disrupting trafficking for sexual exploitation, namely Pentameter 1 and Pentameter 2, are given in the table below. Pentameter 1 ran between mid February and mid June 2006. Pentameter 2 was launched in October 2007 and ran until approximately mid March 2008. The majority of arrests made during both operations have been prosecuted as immigration or prostitution offences.

  There have been no convictions in Scottish courts for sexual exploitation under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 section 22, although data supplied by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service identified one case where a person was proceeded against in relation to sex trafficking offences under Section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003. Proceedings were subsequently discontinued following a review of the available evidence.

  Number of Arrests Made in Operations Pentameter 1 and Pentameter 2

  

Police Force
Pentameter 11
Pentameter 22


Central Scotland 
0
5


Dumfries and Galloway
6
2


Fife 
N/K
0


Grampian
0
1


Lothian and Borders
N/K
3


Northern
0
2


Strathclyde
3
7


Tayside
3
15


Totals
12
35



  Sources:

  1. Serious Organised Crime Agency.

  2. Pentameter 2 ACPO Gold Command.

  Note: N/K - Not Known, data not available.

Justice

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources will be made available over the next two years to support victims of human trafficking.

Kenny MacAskill: No decisions have yet been made on the level of resources that the Scottish Government will make available to support victims of crime over the next two years.

NHS Waiting Times

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was for a hearing aid in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25768 on 3 August 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

NHS Waiting Times

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was for a hearing aid in each year since 1999, broken down by Scottish Parliament constituency.

Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25768 on 3 August 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Parliamentary Questions

Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be in a position to provide a substantive answer to question S3W-24910, lodged on 16 June 2009 and due for answer on 14 July 2009.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24910, on 25 August 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Roads

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what Transport Scotland estimates projected daily traffic flow levels will be for the various sections of the new M80 from Stepps to Haggs in 2020.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland estimates that the average annual daily traffic flows on the various sections of the new M80 from Stepps to Haggs in 2020 will be approximately:

  Hornshill to Mollinsburn – 56,600 vehicles.

  Mollinsburn to Auchenkilns – 105,100 vehicles.

  Auchenkilns to Old Inns – 89,100 vehicles.

  Old Inns to Haggs – 97,700 vehicles.

Roads

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what Transport Scotland’s estimates projected daily traffic flow levels will be for the various sections of the new M80 from Stepps to Haggs in 2011.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland estimates that the average annual daily traffic flows on the various sections of the new M80 from Stepps to Haggs in 2011 will be approximately:

  Hornshill to Mollinsburn – 54,400 vehicles.

  Mollinsburn to Auchenkilns – 82,300 vehicles.

  Auchenkilns to Old Inns – 69,800 vehicles.

  Old Inns to Haggs – 76,500 vehicles.

Roads

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the designated alternative route(s) is or are for the M80 from Stepps to Haggs.

Stewart Stevenson: This issue was covered at the public local inquiry in October 2005. The alternative route is the existing road network.

Scottish Water

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish Water’s implementation of sustainable development guidance is monitored and reported.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23192 on 5 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Scottish Water

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that Scottish Water has regard to its statutory duties under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, as set out in the Ministerial Guidance To Scottish Water on Sustainable Development  issued in April 2006.

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that Scottish Water is meeting the requirement to further the conservation of biodiversity under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, as set out in the Ministerial Guidance To Scottish Water on Sustainable Development  issued in April 2006.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water is required to comply with a wide range of statutory duties covering the environment and water quality. It is for the appropriate regulatory body, such as the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency or Scotland Natural Heritage, to ensure that the appropriate legislative standards are met.

Scottish Water

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scottish Water is adequately reporting on progress made in embedding sustainable development in its day-to-day operations, as set out in the Ministerial Guidance To Scottish Water on Sustainable Development issued in April 2006.

Stewart Stevenson: I am content that Scottish Water’s annual report provides adequate detail on the measures it has taken both in the delivery of its capital investment programme and its day-to-day operations to embed sustainable development.

Sport

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is making sport accessible to inner-city populations.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has made record funding of almost £134 million available to sportscotland over the current spending period. This will ensure they are in a position to work with all local authorities across Scotland and other key partners to increase opportunities for more people to participate in sport whether they live in urban or rural areas and help them lead longer, healthier lives.

Transport Scotland

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been recruited to Transport Scotland as (a) engineers, (b) environmental specialists, (c) transport planners, (d) procurement specialists and (e) project managers since May 2007 and how in each category this compares with the previous two years.

Stewart Stevenson: The available information is provided in the following table:

  

Date
Engineers (including appointees to the Graduate Training Scheme)
Environmental Specialists
Transport Planners
Procurement Specialists
Project Managers


January 2007 – to-date
22
1
5
0
3


January 2006-December 2006
4
0
1
0
3


January 2005-December 2005
20
0
0
0
4



  Note: *Five of this complement have been offered positions but not yet accepted.

Transport Scotland

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any member of the executive board of Transport Scotland (TS) has declared shareholdings in companies that have received contracts from TS in the last two years; if so, which companies were involved, and whether a conflict of interest arose.

Stewart Stevenson: Shareholdings of members of the Transport Scotland board are declared and published in the Transport Scotland annual report and accounts which are available at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/reports/publications-and-guidance/corporate.

  As stated in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 annual report and accounts, the former Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Guy Houston, held shares and share options in First Group plc.

  The Scottish Government response to the Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit Committee on the First ScotRail Passenger Rail Franchise sets out the position in relation to any potential conflict of interest on this matter http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/FOI/Disclosures/2009/08/PAC.